Best beaches on Koh Lipe?

[elektrified]

First time visitor to Koh Lipe and was wondering if anyone can recommend which part of the island to stay and why. I know there are 3 main beaches and may even spend some of the time on one beach and then move to another.

 

Any recommendations would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

[leggo]

I was there last year and my fav was sunset beach - much quieter and snorkeling was the best there. Pattaya beach is rowdy and where all the boats come in . Sunrise has some nice hotels and bars but not wonderful for swimming . Walking street has loads of eateries but not my sort of place. 

[dluek]

Sunrise Beach is my favorite. Incredibly beautiful with the best selection of accommodation, quieter than Pattaya Beach but still easy to reach Walking Street. Honestly, since the island is so small, you should choose a resort based on whichever looks best to you and not worry too much about location. It's not like Samui or Chang where you have to motorbike or songthaew between beaches. When I go I stay at Gipsy Resort on central Sunrise Beach and walk to different parts of the island each day. The whole island will be quiet this time of year. Sunset Beach is much smaller and has an odd look to it since the military came in and bulldozed the old Porn's Bungalows some years back, which had been the only actual place to stay right on the beach (the others that are still open there are all squished in up on the headlands). They left remnants of the bungalows so there were still toilets and debris sitting out in the open last I was there. The island is tiny -- can walk across it in 15 minutes. No need to use the motorbike taxis unless you're weighed down with luggage. Those were nonexistent on Lipe just 5-6 years ago. 

[MikeN]

Sunrise beach is the narrowest, almost disappears at high tide, also gets a lot of rubbish blown on to it, much of that from the sea gypsies village, sad to say.

If you are a snorkeler it does have some quite good coral around the small islands offshore, a 250m swim to get there though.

Sunset is really only good for sunset watching.

Pattaya beach is the biggest, and busiest. There is some decent snorkeling at either end and at the roped off areas near the Green View and Z touch resorts.

But the island is small enough to get from one side to the other easily so picking the best beach need not be the only reason for picking your accom. Choose your resort and just explore all the beaches.

Personally I always stay at the Green View on Pattaya beach, but you might prefer something more upmarket and air conditioned?